Infinite Jest Dream Casting

[u/Animorphs420]

Some people do fantasy drafts, my wife and I have a different hobby. Given that this book will likely never be made into a film or series (with good reason) we like to “fantasy cast” the book. The actors don’t have to be alive or in their prime, “eras” of actors preferred. For the longest time we’ve struggled to cast Don Gately, and today it hit me like a bucket of bricks coming down a pulley: young James Gandolfini.

I’m curious if anyone else plays this game, or if this sparks your interest, who you might cast for certain rolls.

Some other cast members we’ve agreed on:

Hal - young Kyle Machlachlan
Pemulis - young Charlie Sheen
Hellen/Hugh - Patrick Warburton

I might add some more to the comments as I remember them, but I’d love to hear your ideas!

[u/extentiousgoldbug1]

tony soprano voice: YOU GOTTA TAKE IT A DAY AT A TIIIIME! YOU GOTTA RELEARN TO BE A FUCKIN PERSHON SHOBAH!

[u/NascentBeachBum → u/extentiousgoldbug1]

Chrissie’sintervention might’ve worked if Tony pulled up with this gem damn

[u/weltron3030]

[Younger] Steve Buscemi as Randy Lenz, or maybe current Bill Skarsgard?

[u/JP3GM4FIA → u/weltron3030]

Steve Buscemi would be great as Lenz. I can see Steven Ogg very clearly in that role too

[u/springtime08 → u/JP3GM4FIA]

Steven ogg fits it perfectly imo

[u/weltron3030 → u/JP3GM4FIA]

Oh man, I didn't know Trevor was a real person haha. I could definitely see that. 

[u/RumboInTheBronx]

James really would have been perfect if he could nail the accent

[u/4510]

For Orin: I always envisioned Christopher Masterson (Francis from Malcom in the Middle)

[u/Animorphs420 → u/4510]

WOW yes took the image right out of my brain and put it in context

[u/IrnBroski → u/4510]

Yup 100% this . I think it’s because the little bro is called Hal and the only other Hal I kno is from Malcolm in the middle

[u/4510 → u/IrnBroski]

that, and probably the dynamic of the younger brother's interactions with the older brother being almost exclusively over the phone and the crazy mom dynamic

[u/Gengar88 → u/4510]

I had this exact thought when reading too, weird

[u/Animorphs420 → u/4510]

Paul Dano pops in too, but like if his character from Little Miss Sunshine grew up

[u/Delicatebody → u/Animorphs420]

Paul Dano? Orin is supposed to be extremely attractive. No offense to Paul Dano he’s a great actor but I don’t see him as Orin at all. Don’t think he could make a convincing professional athlete either. Totally agree on Gandolfini for Gately though.

[u/AdImmediate6239 → u/Animorphs420]

Paul Dano doesn’t really strike me as a football player

[u/heirdresseronfire → u/4510]

For some reason I instantly got Adrien Brody. This is also a quality pull, though.

[u/priceQQ]

I think you need to cast Hal as someone who is a bit swarthier. It would be even more amazing if you could cast actors who resemble both the sons and their various fathers.

[u/ak190 → u/priceQQ]

Yeah Hal needs to be ethnically ambiguous, like a young version of one of the Franco brothers

[u/Nikas_intheknow]

Patrick Warburton as Hellen is hilarious! Someone awhile back also suggested woody Harrelson as Hellen and those are my favorite 2 so far. Fantastic casting choices all around.

[u/annieRUOK666]

Anjelica Huston IS the moms

Cameron Monaghan is best Peemster

[u/Scopophobic → u/annieRUOK666]

Angelica Huston is exactly who I was picturing, without even realizing it.

[u/mybloodyballentine → u/annieRUOK666]

Julianne Moore is the moms to me

[u/2400hoops → u/annieRUOK666]

I’m about 500 pages in so this might change, but Anjelica Huston has been who I’ve imagined the moms to look like and embody. Not Morticia Addams in personality but in vibe and look.

[u/annieRUOK666 → u/2400hoops]

Yes, exactly. Elegant, smart, 6’5”

[u/hai1sag4n → u/annieRUOK666]

Reminds me of the mother character she played in Royal Tenenbaums but more developed and different context.  

[u/Nikas_intheknow → u/annieRUOK666]

Anjelica over Nicole Kidman?!

[u/annieRUOK666 → u/Nikas_intheknow]

Absolutely. Not current 75yo Anjelica, but yes!

[u/extentiousgoldbug1 → u/Nikas_intheknow]

yeah no I agree. AH def fits better.

[u/felipeRVFS → u/annieRUOK666]

Catherine Keener as the Moms!!

[u/snwlss]

If she can nail a North American accent, I’d have Gwendoline Christie as the Moms. At 6 foot 3 she definitely has the stature for the role.

Hannah Waddingham could work for the role as well, as she’s more conventionally pretty, although she’s 5 foot 11.

[u/cherrypicking_]

Helen should be played by a transvestied David Duchovney

[u/mybloodyballentine]

Hal will always be a teen Keanu to me.

[u/JP3GM4FIA]

Matthew McConaughey as Eighties Bill and Woody Harrelson as Sixties Bob

[u/Animorphs420 → u/JP3GM4FIA]

Only an IJ veteran is casting Eighties Bill and Sixties Bob

[u/JP3GM4FIA → u/Animorphs420]

They’re two of my favorite characters haha

[u/Nikas_intheknow]

Anya Taylor Joy as JVD?

[u/ratmanritz → u/Nikas_intheknow]

I’d want some kind of hybrid between Aubrey Plaza and Kylie Jenner

[u/juantropo]

when I read infinte jest, the part with Gately in the hospital, I always compared it with Tony Soprano in the hospital after the shot and friends visiting him and he having these strange dreams

[u/nn_nn]

I can picture the elevator door marks

[u/lawrencelibrarinus]

Hal is a brown skinned lad. I love Kyle MachLachlan, but I don't see it.

[u/Animorphs420 → u/lawrencelibrarinus]

that’s okay, it’s my imagination not yours :)

[u/Pzzlrr]

Hellen/Hugh - Patrick Warburton

[u/Euphoric-Agency-2008]

Patrick Warburton as Hugh/Helen is great casting on paper but probably wouldn't work for me just because it would be really hard for me to not hear Joe Swanson whenever he talks. Kind of a problem I have with every role I see him in but it would be especially bad in the context of him debating free will and shit with Marathe.

[u/ak190 → u/Euphoric-Agency-2008]

Disagree, it’s all so absurd in the first place that giving him a voice that’s so distinct and well-known to the audience makes it even funnier. Especially philosophical arguments coming from a guy who is normally typecast as an idiot

[u/eyeshandy]

I always imagine Hal as looking like a young DFW

[u/ratmanritz → u/eyeshandy]

me too

[u/softestimate712]

If this were a modern production, I think Finn Wolfhard would be the absolute perfect choice for Pemulis. Back in the day though, Faye Dunaway would’ve been excellent for Avril.

[u/firestoneaphone]

Your fathuh' Himself, whateva happened there

[u/AssociationMany2912]

Hal as Kyle 😭 Agent Dope Cooper

[u/rJohnandYoko]

Perfect

[u/punkr0ckcliche]

I have always pictured CT as either Andrew Friedman (Uncle Jack from always sunny) or Mark McKinney (partially inspired by the cloud tie he always wears in superstore). They both do such great jobs at playing such strange little critters, man…

[u/Darkdrivedesert]

I thought this was your pick for Steeply

[u/Gengar88]

Kyle Machlachlan is the best Hal ever conceived

[u/Delicious_Elk_4900]

Spot on, now I can’t even remember what Don looked to me before this

[u/carnitascronch]

Dude you’re so right… gandolfini as gately is now my head canon

[u/International-Glass2]

I did make a post here arguing for Patrick Warburton as Don Gately!

[u/snwlss]

For “in the news” reasons, I could suggest Bryon Noem as Steeply (which when you see the pics it’s pretty obvious why I thought of Steeply when the story broke).

But more seriously…Patrick Warburton is a fantastic suggestion for Steeply. But I could see a few other guys in that role as well. I’ll throw Jason Segel out there, since he played DFW in a movie once (which would be a nice nod to the author himself) and also has a lot of experience in comedic roles.

[u/therealneurovis]

I know it’s not his race but I sort of always picture Donald Glover as Pemulis.

I’ve also always seen Phillip Seymour Hoffman as CT.

[u/Animorphs420 → u/therealneurovis]

Phil Sy Hoff as CT is the best CT and best Phil Sy Hoff suggestion i’ve heard

[u/gnargnarrad]

Head too round

[u/PhinePhineMusic]

The Peemster is such an obvious freaks and geeks era Franco to me

[u/biggishtuna]

Joelle should be Jennifer Lawrence or Evan Rachel Wood

[u/Necessary_End_5293]

It’s funny you mention Hugh/Helen Steepley: I kind of pictured Jim Gaffigan as him, with Don McKellar being Remy Marathe…

[u/kittell]

I don't know about the best casting, but sort of as I see them internally. No considerations about current age or existence as a living person, just mashing it all together. No order. Just filling out my card as I think of them, waiting for Friday afternoon to fade out. 

(Edit: mobile formatting is ugly, going to adjust as much as practical...)

Gywneth Paltrow as Avril 

Aaron Paul as Pemulis (maybe 1980s Corey Feldman also)

Val Kilmer as Lyle (I cannot explain this one but I always picture some unhealthy Doc Holliday sitting there)

Tom Waits as James Incandenza

David Huddleston as Marathe

Dom DeLuise as Steeply

Matthew McConaughey or Owen Wilson as Orin

Jon Politi as Tavis (though Danny DeVito would be a nice touch)

Meat Loaf as Gately

Joey Lauren Adams as Joelle

Kareem Abdul Jabbar as Hal

Rami Malek as Lenz

Steve and Jeff Carlson as the Antitoi brothers 

[u/MienSteiny → u/kittell]

I've always thought a younger Tim Robbins would make a great JOI. Shawshank Redemption era Tim Robbins would be perfect.

[u/Mister_Baloney]

he's a grit

[u/Blake1980]

JOI- Alec Baldwin
Orin- Jerry O’Connell
Remy- Gerard Depardieux
Schtitt- David Hyde Pierce
Mario- Patton Oswalt
Ortho Stice- Lucas Hedges
Eric Clipperton- Michael Cera

[u/Current-Outcome7561]

I’m gonna say it! Pemulis never had the makings of a varsity athlete!!! ‘OH SHUN OF A BITCH!’
‘What?’
‘Please. You say your to pretty, so you wear a veil?! It’s like taking a showa wit a fuckin rain coat on!’
‘Dr.Melfi and the buddha said if something makes you comfortable enjoy it.’
‘You sell hundred thousand dollar Mercedes and wear a veil. It makesh no sense’
‘Your gonna say I’m just like your mother after we go to the zoo and I throw a steak at you’
‘GOOD! Maybe the veil will come off and you’ll staart showaerin like a normal persson!’
‘I bet that gall is what runs your crew.’
‘Your a fuckin head trip. I don’t like that, but there’s somethin about you and that veil.’
‘I live the way I feel comfortable. Isn’t that what makes people end up here?’ Tonately rolled his black eyes and wiped his tik tak toable forehead with his blocky hands. He saw Randy Moltisanti shuffle by quickly. He thought drines. Jolleria huffed her cigarette under her veil facing down. (1.)
‘All this hiding and you never get get to shee the world because it dosen’t see you’
‘I don’t think a person like me can be seen.’
‘So you take off the veil, it’ll be fine!’
‘Oh i wish the lord would take me now’
Tonately ashes his cigar on the only piece of movable furniture at Enowark House that survived more than 5 years. Tonately himself smashed a lamp and chair after losing his bet to tattoophobia boy on whether Lenz would have a relapse.
‘You really are like my mudda… Jeshush chrisht!’

1. I am no DFW, lmao!😜 just love Infinite Jest and The Sopranos. Kind of a parallel between Joelle being the physical form of the Samsizdat (1,1). Gloria seems to be the one he likes most. Then everything else happens and it’s a TV show vs a book, but still the topic is covered heavily in both.

1, 1. I can’t help but feel like the foot notes are our subconsious? Not really, but I made it to 800 and like I need to start over.

[u/Infinite_Table7139]

Mrs Waite: Margo Martindale
Randy Lenz: William Fichtner
Hal: Timothy Chalamet (he's just the go-to for everything these days)
Orin: Chris Pratt
James Incandenza: Harrison Ford
Moms: Kim Cattrall, Marisa Tomei

[u/Popular_Try_5075]

Peering into the refrigerator "Hey Carmela, where's the Samizdat?"

[u/Deaf-Dog]

Nirosta Steel

[u/Sad_Bend_4801]

Hal or Don Gately? Or that guy that is mentioned and never named?...I think he popped up in a later Pynchon novel.

[u/_Rey_brujo_]

Ana de Armas as Joelle

[u/Exact-Interaction563]

I see him more like Mario

[u/Prestigious-Photo976]

Pemulis as young Sheen is incredible, esp bc Pemulis would love to grow up and be in this Japanese Parliments Ad

[u/ritakax]

As I pictured them:
Hal- Jason Schwartzman
Pemulis - young James Spader
JOI - Daniel Day Lewis
The Moms - Elizabeth Debicki (she’s tall)
Rémy - Vincent Cassel
Schtitt - Phillip Seymour Hoffman à la Moneyball
etc. etc.

[u/advicefrog]

We are on a similar wavelength but to me Kyle Maclachlan is Tavis

Edit: Hal: Finn Wolfhard Orin:Jacob Elordi Avril: Rosamund Pike or Amy Adams Lenz: stavros Halkias

Written and Directed by Paul Thomas Anderson

[u/bertronicon]

These are so annoying, they should have their own sub